Vineyard cultivator



May 25, 1948. F. H. DAwLEY 2,442,198

VINEYARD cUL'rIvA'roR Filed March 28, 1946 :s sheets-sheet 1 f 4:: aw/ L y y f@ LZZO New My 25, 1948. F, H DAWLEY 2,442,198

VINEYARD CULTIVATOR Filed March 28, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F nUeNLZO?" 17e MQW ZZor/feys May 25, 1948. F, DAWLEY 2,442,198

VINEYARD CULTVATOR Filed March 28, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 25, 1948 UNITED STATES yPATENT ori-ica VINEYARD CUL'rIvA'roR Francis H. Dawley, Silver Creek, N. Y. Application March 28, 194s, serial No. 857,818

z claims. (ci. S17-137) This invention relates to cultivators and more particularly to a cultivator for cultivating or hoeing grape vines.

As is well known grapes are grown on vines which hang on fences or trellises arranged in parallel rows. The usual method of mechanically cultivating a grape vineyard is to cultivate the space or clearing between the rows of fences but leave the sections of earth in line with the fences and immediately under the vines untouched. 'I'he weeds growing on these uncultivated stretches are undesirable and must be removed by manual hoeing which requires a. great amount of time and labor.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a mechanically operated cultivator for cultivatingor hoeing a grape vineyard, especially the earth around the roots of the vines and the patches of earth between vines arranged in the same row, in a continuous operation.

Another object is to mount such a cultivator on a prime mover which can be driven parallel to the rows of grape vines and controlled to cultivate the earth around and in line with successive vines in the same row while the prime mover is moving.

Another object is to provide such a cultivator with its cultivating tool or hoe laterally extensible or retractable as desired and controlled by the operator.

Another object is to provide such a cultivator with means to adjust the vertical position of the cultivating tool or hoe so as to cultivate the earth to the desired depth.

Another object is to provide such a cultivator with means for adjusting the angularity of the cultivating tool or hoe with respect to the line of travel of the cultivator so as to obtain the desired type of cultivation.

Another object is to mount such a cultivator on a tractor or other suitable prime mover with controls for the cultivator conveniently arranged so that only one person is required to operate the tractor and cultivator with a minimum of eiort.

A further object is to provide such a mechanf ical cultivator which is simple in construction,

' inexpensive to manufacture, not -liable to get out of order and easy to maintain.

Additional objects of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

Eig. 1 is a side elevation of the mechanical cultivator forming the subject of the present invention.

Fis. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3, Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 4 4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the cultivating tool and its adjusting means.

,The mechanical cultivator comprising the present invention is shown as mounted on a conventional type of farm tractor, illustrated in outline form by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and represented by the numeral I0, although any other suitable prime mover or wheeled carrier can be used. The tractor is shown as carrying a. frame member Il to which cultivator frame side arms I2 and I3 are connected by ball and socket connections I 4 and I5 respectively. These side arms I2 and I3 are parallel to each otherand extend forwardly from the frame member and lie in a generally horizontal plane. The right side arm I2 is provided with a hole near its forward end to receive the lower end of a spindle I6 rotatably arranged in a bushing sleeve Il which is suitably made fast, as by welding, to a transverse frame bar or member I8, a nut I9 being screwed on the threaded end of the spindle I6 and holding the arm I2 in position. Similarly the left side arm I3 is provided with a hole to receive the lower end of a spindle 20 rotatably arranged in a bushing sleeve 2i which is suitably made fast as by welding to the transverse frame bar I8, a nut 22 being screwed on the threaded end of the spindle 2u and holding the arm I3 in p0- sition. The center to center distance between the socket connections Il and I5 is the same as the center to center distance between the spindles I6 vand 20. Also. the center to center distance between the socket connection yI4 and the spindle I6 is the same as the center to center distance between the socket connection I5 and the spindle 20. It will thus be seen thata parallelogram linkage or frame is provided by the frame member II, right side arm I2, left side arm I3 and transverse bar I8. 'I'he parallelogram so formed is mechanically adjustable through remote control means in a manner hereinafter described.

The right side arm I2 is braced by a. brace bar 25 suitably connected at its rear end to the arm I2 at a. point intermediate theends of the arm and extending upwardly and forwardly and provided with a hole near its forward end to receive the upper end of the spindle I6, the nut 26 being screwed on the threaded end of the spindle I6 and holding the brace bar 2l in position. The left side arm I3 is also similarly braced by a brace bar 21 suitably connected at its rear end to the arm I3 at a point intermediate the ends of the arm and extending upwardly and forwardly and provided with a hole near its forward end to receive the upper end of the spindle 26, the nut 26 being screwed on the threaded end of the spindle 26 and holding the brace bar 21 in position. Y

Rigidly connected as by welding, to the horizontal transverse frame bar |6 and extending upwardly and forwardly are right and left extension bars35 and 36. A horizontal transverse thrust rod 31 is mounted on the ends of the extension bars 35 and 36 and is shown as secured to the same .by bolts 36 and 36, respectively, although it is to be understood that any other suitable fastening means can be employed. The thrust rod 31 is so arranged on the extension bars 35 and 36 that a substantial portion of its length extends laterally to the left of the extension bar 36.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, vertical right and left guide plates 46 and 4|, respectively, are rigidly secured to the sides of th'e tractor I6 in any suitable manner as by screws 42, and are shown as arranged substantially vertically above the horizontal transverse frame bar I6. These guide plates 46 and 4| are adapted to slidably receive slide members 43 and 44, respectively, which are T-shaped in cross section. Laterally extending horizontal bars 45 and 46 are vertically slotted at their inner ends to receive the vertical ribs of the corresponding slide members 43 and 44, and are fastened to the same by bolts 41-41 or in any other suitable manner. Brackets 48-46 are suitably secured as by bolts 46-46 to the outer ends of the bars 45 and 46 to which brackets are also connected as shown by bolts 56-56 right and left bracing arms and 52 which extend downwardly and inwardly and are secured at their lower ends to the ribs of the respective slide members 43 and 44 as by bolts 53-53 or in any other suitable manner. It will therefore be seen that the bars 45 and 46 are held in a substantially horizontal position by the bracing arms 5| and 52 and are capable of moving vertically up and down with' their companion slide members 43 and 44.

lAs shown in Fig, 3, a substantially vertical thrust arm 55 is suitably fastened to the arm 45 as by a U-bolt 56 .and extends downwardly and slightly forwardly past the rear side of the horizontal transverse vthrust rod 31. An auxiliary thrust arm 51 is arranged on the forward side of the arm 55 in spaced relation thereto and is shown as having its upper portionbent rearwardly to engage the arm 55 to which it is welded or fastened in any other suitable manner. A pair of rollers or spools 56-56 embrace opposite sides of the transverse thrust bar 31 and are rotatably mounted one above the other on the thrust arm 55 and auxiliary thrust arm 51. The rollers or spools 58-56 permit the transverse rod 31 to move back and forth through the rollers.. The thrust arm 55 is braced against lateral displacement with respect to the bar 45 by the diagonal brace bar 56 fastened at its lower end to the arm 55 by the bolt 66 or in any other suitable manner and at its opposite end to the bar 45 by the U- bolt 6| or in any other suitable manner.

A substantially vertical thrust arm 65 is shown as secured to the horizontal bar 46 by the U-bolt 66 on the left side of the tractor and is similar to the thrust arm 55. Thus the arm 65 extends downwardly and slightly forwardly past the rear side of the horizontal transverse thrust rod 61; has secured to it an auxiliary thrust arm 61v between and on which another pair of rollers or spools 66-66 are rotatably mounted so as to embrace and roll on the rod 31. The thrust arm is braced by the diagonal brace bar 66 secured at its lower end to the arm 65 by the bolt 16 and at its upper end to the horizontal bar 46 by the U-bolt 1| although itis readily apparent any other suitable securing means can be employed.

The right end of the transverse frame bar I I is shown as carrying the cultivating tool or hoe, indicated generally at 15. in such manner that the same is adjustable about a vertical axis with respect thereto. To accomplish this a channelshaped bracket 16 is suitably secured to the end of the bar |6 as by the bolts 11-11. A disk plate 16 fast to the bottom of the bracket 16 is provided with a series of holes 16 through which bolts 66 pass and also through registering holes provided in a second disk plate 6| thereby locking the two plates 16 and 6| together. Depending arms 62-62 are shown welded to the bottom of the second disk plate 6| and carry the hoe blade 63 which' may be of any desired form or shape. By providing a plurality of registering holes 19 in the disk plates 16 and 6|, it is readily apparent that the cultivating tool 15 can be adjusted about a vertical axis to any desired position of angularity with respect to the line of travel of the cultivator.

Means are provided to vertically adjust the cultivating element 15 so that cultivation to any desired depth can be obtained. For this purpose the frame of the tractor I6 is provided with transversely spaced journal plates 65-85 which receive a sleeve formed in two sections 66 and 61, these sleeve sections internally receiving a yokeshaped lifting arm assembly comprising a left arm 68 and a right arm 66,`as best shown in Fig. 3.

The left arm 66 is prevented from rotating in the' sleeve section 61 by the screw 66, the inner end oi' the left arm 66 extending completely through the sleeve section 61 and part way into the sleeve section 66. The inner end of the right arm 66 extends part way into the sleeve section 66 and is prevented from rotating with respect thereto by the screw 6|.

The right lift arm 66 is operatively connected to the right side of the cultivator frame by means of the hanger rod 62 formed at its lower end to provide a hook which engages the eye 66 secured to the right bracing arm 5| and threaded at its upper end which extends through holes in a U- shaped clamp 64 and held in adjustable position by the nut 65. A second hanger rod 66 assists in supporting the cultivator frame and has a hook at itslower end to be received by the eye 61 mounted on the diagonal brace bar 56, the upper end of the rod 66 extending through holes provided in a. U-shaped strap or clamp 66 arranged on the end of the right lift arm 66 and being threaded to receive the nut 66. It will be seen that the nuts 65 and 66 can be adjusted to properly distribute the load carried by the right lift arm 66.

'Ihe left lift arm 66 supports the left side of the cultivator frame by means of the hanger rod |66 formed at itslower end to provide a hook which is received bythe eye |6| attached to the bracing arm 52 and having its upper end extending through holes provided in a U-shaped strap or clamp |62 which embraces the arm 66 and being threaded for a nut |63. The nut |66 can 5 be adjusted to insure proper vertical positioning of the left side of the cultivator framework.

The sleeve sections 86 and 81 are respectively shown as provided with upstanding levers |05 and |06 formed integrally therewith, to the upper ends of which tie rods 01 and |08, respectively, are pivotally connected. Hand operating levers |09 and I| are pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the tie rods |01 and |08, respectively, and are suitably journaled on the frame of the tractor I0 and capable of being locked in a given position in any conventional manner. It will be readily seen that the operator can manually move the operating levers |09 and I |0 to elevate or depress the cultivator frame thereby to elevate or depress the cultivating element 15 in order to cultivate the earth to the desired depth. Thus when the operator pulls back on both operating levers |09 and IIU, the tie rods |01 and |08 rotate the levers and |06 thereby rotating the sleeve sections 86 and 81 and lift arms 88 and 89 about their common axis. The hanger rods 92, 96 and |00 are therefore pulled upwardly by the lift arms 88 and 89 and lift the cultivator frame by causing the slide members 43 and 44 to slide upwardly in their respective guide plates 40 and 4|. This upward movement of the cultivator frame, of course, raises the thrust arms 55 and 65 and through their respective sets of rollers 58-58 and 68-68 lift the transverse thrust bar 31 and transverse bar I8 which carries the cultivating tool 15. A raised position of the cultivating tool and cultivator frame is shown by dotted lines in Fig. l.

If it is desired to depress the cultivating tool 'I5 the operating levers |08 and ||0 are pushed forwardly by the operator thus permitting the weight of the cultivator frame to lower the cultivating tool.

In order to move the cultivating tool laterally, inwardly or outwardly, iluid operated means controlled from a remote point are provided to actuate the parallelogram formed by the side arms I2 and I3, frame member I and transverse frame bar I8. As best shown in Fig. 2, a, double acting piston and cylinder assembly, indicated generally by the numeral I I5, is arranged between the hall and socket connection I5 and the right side arm I2. This assembly comprises a. cylinder ||6 in which is arranged a longitudinally slidable piston I I 1 with its piston rod I I8 extending through one end wall thereof and suitably connected by means of a ball and socket connection ||9 to the side arm I2 at a point intermediate the ends thereof. The opposite end of the cylinder ||6 carries a plate spaced apart therefrom by means of a plurality of adjustable screws |2I. A bar |22 connects the plate |20 with the ball and socket connection I5.' Any suitable fluid, such as hydraulic oil, can be selectively introduced to either side of the piston ||1 by the lines |23 and |24 which lead to a control valve actuated by the manually operated control valve lever |26, the numeral |21 representing the main iluid supply line connecting the control valve |25 with any suitable means (not shown) carried by the tractor I0 for supplying the fluid under pressure. The valve |25 is conveniently arranged for the operator so that the valve control lever |26 is readily accessible to him.

If the control valve lever |26 is pushed forwardly by the operator the valve |25 permits nuid under pressure to pass through the line |24 into the cylinder I I6 and forces the piston I I1 to move so as to push the piston rod I8 out of the cylinder and thereby rotate the side arm I2 in a, clockwise direction as viewed in Fig.v 2. The fluid in the cylinder on the opposite side of the piston is forced out through the line |23. Movement of the side arm I2 will shift the parallelogram formed by the side arms I2 and I3, frame member II and transverse frame bar I8 to the right thereby moving the cultivating tool 15 carried on the end of the frame bar I8 to the right. In this lateral movement to the right of the frame bar I8 with its cultivating tool 15, the transverse thrust bar 31 is pulled through the sets of rollers 58-58 and fil- 68 which are carried by the generally vertically arranged thrust arms 55 and 65, respectively. The U-bolts 56, 6|, 66 and 1I respectively, permit the thrust arms 55 and 65 with their companion diagonal brace bars 59 and 69 to rotate slightly about their respective laterally extending horizontal bars 45 and 46 in order to accommodate the slight rearward movement of the transverse thrust rod 31 when the parallelogram linkage is shifted to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2. Similarly any forward movement of the transverse thrust rod 31 occasioned by shifting the parallelogram linkage to the left is accommodated in the same manner. Figs. 2 and 3 show a dotted line position of the assembly when shifted to the right.

To move the cultivating tool 15 laterally inwardly or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, the operator moves the control valve lever to a rear position and fluid under pressure is permitted to pass through the line |23 into the cylinder ||6 and bear against the right face of the piston ||1 thereby pulling the piston rod H8 into the cylinder and rotating the side arm I2 in a counterclockwise direction xand shifting the parallelogram linkage and cultivating tool 15 as hereinabove described to the left, the iluid on the left side of the piston I|1 being forced out through the line |24.

It will be understood that the operator can hydraulically lock the cultivating tool 15 in any desired laterally displaced position by returning the control valve lever |26 to the position thereof shown in Fig. 1. It is further to be noted that the operator can control the speed of shifting the cultivating tool 15 in either direction from one position to another by the amount he opens the valve |25, thus permitting easily controlled,se1ec tive operation.

'It is also pointed out that the lateral 'displacement of the cultivating tool 15 is intended to take place in response tothe operators control-as he drives the tractor between rows of grape vines. Thus he can very easily shift the cultivating tool 15 laterally farther away or closer to the tractor to go around the roots of vines to cultivate the earth close to the same and also cultivate the patches of earth between vines arranged in the same row.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a mechanical cultivator especially adapted for cultivating grape vines in a manner such that the cultivating tool or hoe can be laterally extended or retracted while being moved in a longitudinal direction to follow an irregular course as desired and controlled by the operator; which is simple in con-l struction and not liable to get out of repair, easy to maintain, inexpensive t-o manufacture, adapted for mounting on any conventional type of farm tractor, and most easy to operate from controls conveniently arranged for the operator. The cultivating tool is also readily vertically adjustable so as to cultivate the earth to any desired depth andadjustable about a vertical axis to obtain the angularity of the cultivating tool desired with respect to the longitudinal line of travel of the cultivator.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combinationwitn a self-propelled tractor having a main frame, cultivating apparatus comprising, a vertical guideway on each lateral side of said main frame, a support frame mounted on each of said guideways for vertical movement thereon, means arranged to independently adjust the vertical position of each oi said support frames on its companion one of said guideways, an elongated member guideably arranged on said support frames for rectilinear reciprocatory movement beyond the lateral side of said tractor and in a direction transverse of the line of movement of said tractor, a cultivating tool on the outer end of said elongated member, a power actuated prime mover for reciprocating said elongated memberrectilinearly while said tractor is in motion, and manually operated control means arranged on said main frame adjacent the station of the operator of said tractor to selectively control the operation of said prime mover.

2. In combination with a self-propelled tractor having a main frame, cultivating apparatus comprising, a. vertical guideway on each lateral side of said main frame, a support frame mounted on each of said guideways for vertical movement thereon, means arranged to independently adjust the vertical position of each of said support frames on its companion one of said guideways, an elongated member guideably arranged on said support frames for rectilinear reciprocatory movement beyond the lateral side of said tractor and in a direction transverse of the line of movemeans arranged on said main frame adjacent the v station of the operator of said tractor to selectively control the operation of said prime mover.

FRANCIS H. DAWLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 357,788 Root et al Feb. 15, 1887 1,936,749 Cady et al Nov. 28, 1933 2,206,283 Jacobs et al July 2, 1940 2,253,130 Lund Aug. 19, 1941 2,269,344 Nelson Jan. 2, 1942 2,320,148 Lindgren et al May 25, 1943 2,361,083 Burnett Oct. 24, 1944 2,391,224 Carter Dec. 18, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 184,894 Great Britain Aug. 24, 1922 192,065 Canada Aug. 12, 1919 394,759 Germany May 6, 1924 629,858 Germany May 15, 1936 

